I got the USBscope50 oscilloscope - but wasn't able to use it, because the software that comes with the device is obsolete, does not run on Java 7 or Windows 7. I was able to find the source code for the software and I was able to modify it to work on Windows 7 64bit and Java 7 (64bit JVM).
The following instructions are good on Windows 7 64bit. The package will not work on 32bit OS.
First thing you need is the correct driver for the device - you can download the package here: Windows_driver
Windows will refuse to use the driver for the device, saying it's not the correct device/driver combination. That's because the USB VID/PID does not match any CP210x device - it is a device with a custom PID. You have to force Windows to use the driver.
The software package can be downloaded here: USBscope50 with JRE7 for Win7 64bit. . Once downloaded, it MUST be unpacked in c:\Program Files\Elan Digital Systems\, otherwise it will not work. Once unpacked, just run start.bat to launch the program.
Update 21.3.2019: I have uploaded the all the sources I have here.
Update 22.3.2019: I have also shared the sources on github, I also created a pom.xml so that it can be built using maven and doesn't depend on netbeans. Contributions are welcome!
Update 26.12.2021: I do not want to keep my wordpress site anymore, so I'm archiving this page in read-only form and I'm moving completely to github.
I spend my free time doing this, it is my hobby. If this
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pf 2014
Uz dva dni bojujem s USB50 (mam ho od r. 2006) a intenzivne pouzivam. Pocitace postupne inovujem ale jeden stary Compaq s WXP s nainstalovanym povodnym sw pre USB50 si stale nechavam. Na novsie PC s Vistou a W7 som nainstaloval novsi sw od Elanu a vsetko nadherne chodilo az po jre6.45. Len co prisla jre7 osciloskopik prestal chodit a trvalo mi dost dlho, kym som pochopil, ze sa treba kajucne vratit ku jre6. Moznost mat nainstalovane dve verzie javy nefungovala, jre7 bolo treba poctivo odinstalovat. Predvcerom som po dlhom hladani okolo sveta skoncil doma…Velmi som sa potesil a okamzite stiahol a nainstaloval Vas programik na PC s W8 64. V demo mode chodi ale nedokazem presvedcit windows aby nevyhlasovali ze poctivo nainstalovany driver CP210x /64 je skutocne 64 bitovy. Za radu ako force Windows to use the driver Vam prispejem aj na viac ako jeden beer.
So srdecnym pozdravom
Andrej Jarosevic
Dakujem, uz som to konecne rozbehal, posielam cez PayPal na par piv. Nakoniec som aj driver natlacil - uz som to davno nerobil a vo W8 vobec, ale spomenul som si na postup. SiLabs bridge som nakoniec v zozname driverov nasiel a nainstaloval. Pretoze som zatial nepotreboval rozlisovat USB 2.0 a 3.0 porty, chvilu mi trvalo najst na zadnom paneli PC (pod stolom) port bez modreho konektoru. Mudry poradca pri problemoch ma upozornil, ze USB scope 50 nemusi s USB 3.0 pracovat. Takze treba ho zapojit do klasickeho USB 2.0 portu a je to :).
Vas program mi ale velmi pomohol, bez neho by to asi chcelo nainstalovat jre6 a mozno by bol zasa problem s novsimi javovskymi aplikaciami.
S pozdravom
Andrej Jarosevic
Som rad ze som niekomu pomohol, dakujem aj za tych “zopar piv” 🙂 Ja som to na W8 ani neskusal, stale som na W7 - a dobre vediet ze s USB 3.0 sa to nema rado. Prilezitostne to do clanku doplnim, aj so screenshotmi na instalaciu ovladaca.
Have you a version for 32 bit win7 java7? I tried installing with 32 bit driver but does not run when started. Original Java usbscope50 software no longer runs under java 7 - throws a load of uncaught exceptions.
Vše jsem nainstaloval dle postupu, po spuštění mi vyhodí hlášku že nemůže najít USBScope50Dvr_W32.dll , přitom ten soubor mám tam kde ho hledá, nemáte nějakou radu na rozchození? Mám W7 64bit
Mate to urcite nakopirovane tam kde pisem (c:\Program Files\Elan Digital Systems) a nie nahodou v “Program Files (x86)”? Nic ine ma nenapada.
Thank you for this Information - works well on W7Pro/64Bit-SP1
Save me to send the USB50 to the trashcan.
I'm glad this helped you! 🙂
“Windows will refuse to use the driver for the device, saying it's not the correct device/driver combination. That's because the USB VID/PID does not match any CP210x device - it is a device with a custom PID. You have to force Windows to use the driver.”
How do I do that?
I don't have access to the device now, but I believe it should be something like this:
I think this should let you use the driver with the device. Please let me know if this works for you or not.
Works like a charm! You made my day! I have 2 USBscope50's that I now can continue to use 🙂 Thank you!
Thumbs up! 🙂 I'm glad I could help.
Hello
Thanks for all you do for the usbscope50 but I have always a bug.
when I launch start.bat the windows Elan of the scope is coming but also another windows of fatal error. With the indication :
Usbscope50 software will terminate now.
Unable to locate Usbscopedrvr_W32.dll
Please insure that this file is in
C:\program files\elan digital system\usbscope50 java software
folder and then try running usbscope50 software again.
Elan digital systems.
I have to click on OK.
I verify the file .dll is in the good place. And the driver seem OK.
Have you an idea ?
thanks
Jacky
What operating system are you using? Is it 64bit Windows 7? Is it in English or French?
The files should be in the folder “C:\Program files\Elan Digital Systems\USBScope50 Java Software” and not “C:\Program files\Elan Digital Systems”. I made that mistake but when I checked on my old XP Laptop I saw the correct folder layout.
Thanks for this Peto, I missed not being able to use the USBScope!
Peter
The zip file contains the “USBScope50 Java Software” folder, so the wording is actually correct 😉 Anyways, I'm glad I helped one more person to revive the nice device.
Peter
Thanks for reviving my USBscope50 - working on windows 10.
I was about to buy to buy a BitScope Micro Oscilloscope & Analyzer - what do you think of this scope compared to the USBscope50? (The USBscope50 is many years old now, how does it compare with newer similar scopes.)
Hi Riyad, I'm glad I could help - and thanks for the donation :), much appreciated.
I had a quick look at the bitscope gadget, it does have some extra features (2ch, logic analyzer) but also seems to have lower speed (20MHz vs 75MHz). It depends what your needs are - in any case I wouldn't say USBscope50 is obsolete, despite its age. It still does its job and it does it well.
win 7 x64 funkcni/working …got one issue(my fault) 🙂 - copy whole directory “USBscope50 Java Software” to c:\Program Files\Elan Digital Systems\ to avoid DLL file missing
Thanks for making this available. I had thought my USBscope50 was dead in the water. I can testify that your solution works with Win 8.1. And as proof of my gratitude I have made a small beer sized donation!
I'm glad it's working well for you 🙂 it's a nice and valuable device, only needs decent software. Many thanks for the donation, much appreciated 🙂
It works even with W10 64 bit.
Important
C:\Program Files\Elan Digital Systems\USBscope50 Java Software
Not Program Files (x86)!!!
Download from silabs.com CP210x_Windows_Driver (W10)and run CP210xVCPInstaller_x64.exe.
Connect the USBscope50 to PC. (tested with USB SS and USB3 ports).
Go to device manager and find the USBscope50 (probably in Portable Devices, no compatible driver…).
Update driver (find manufacturer Silicon Labs and driver CP210x USB to UART Bridge) and confirm. IGNORE the warning (your responsibility) and click YES.
In the device manager you will find the USBscope50 in COM and LPT ports as Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge (COM …).
Run the start.bat and enjoy.
WARNING Do not connect the USBscope50 to different USB port during session.
Andrej Jarosevic
I've loaded your Win7 update, including the driver and was informed that the device was working correctly. What I can't get is the software to open without a Fatal error that it's unable to locate the USBscope50Drvr_W32.dll. That file is in the Java Software folder - but it's still asking that I need to insure that the .dll is in the folder. What is the next step?
Ok, disregard that last comment. I corrected the issue. Much appreciated that you have provided this update.
Glad it worked after all. What was the problem?
Hi Peter,
I also have a USBscope50 and you did an excellent job.
Do you still have the source code?
Do you think it would be possible to make it work on Android?
Best Regards István.
Hi Istvan - I could probably still find the sources somewhere. A lot of the code is specific for desktop OS (i.e. the GUI) so porting to android would need a *lot* of work. If you're up to it, I can upload the sources for you somewhere.
Peter
Hi Peter,
Thank you for your great work!
My old nice small scope is resurrected back to life!
Am interested in source codes of your modification too… would you be so kind to search for and upload anywhere please?
I would like to study the code and to correct some minor glitches which are remaining there.
Thank you, Lukas
Hi Lukas,
sorry for long silence from me, my WP e-mail notifications weren't working and I only now found your comment. I will upload the sources somewhere.
Peter
Hi everyone,
It is possible to modify VID/PID of the scope and let Windows install generic SiLabs driver automatically.
1/ Force install the driver as described in the article (needed only once for programming)
2/ Download SiLabs legacy utilities
https://www.silabs.com/community/interface/knowledge-base.entry.html/2016/11/04/cp210x_legacy_progra-zARf
3/ Run CP210xSetIDs.exe as administrator
4/ Make sure you have selected correct device
5/ Check checkbox next to “Pid” (do not check any other checkboxes or change any other default values)
6/ Enter new Pid value: EA60 (old value is F001)
7/ Click Program Device button
8/ Close program, unplug and re-plug the scope
9/ Let Windows install default SiLabs driver (installs automatically)
Now Windows will recognize the USB Scope 50 as generic USB SiLabs COM port, so there is no need to force install the driver in the future. Scope will now work in any USB port on any computer (Windows 7 and above) with default SiLabs Windows driver.
This is great, no more need to fool around with forcing driver install. I just did it on mine, it worked like a charm!